Whitney Roady Rises Above Obstacles to Pursue Respiratory Therapy Dreams at OFTC

OFTC –During her junior year of high school, Whitney Roady and her family faced severe emotional, financial, and physical hardship due to a horrific accident involving her sister. Faced with surgeries, medical bills, and many uncertainties, the entire family, including Whitney, struggled.
After being an honors student for most of her educational career, Roady’s grades dropped and she would graduate high school without honors, no scholarships, and no transportation to attend college away from home.
She felt stuck.
Following Her Dreams
Despite feeling hopeless, Roady was determined to pursue higher education and follow her dreams.
“When I graduated high school and started searching for what was next, my mom encouraged me to apply to OFTC,” Roady shared. “My mom is an OFTC graduate, and I knew if she could attend and be successful with five children at home, I could attend and achieve success as well.”
Roady knew she wanted to work as much as she could while attending college, and OFTC’s flexible scheduling and convenient class times made that possible. She also wanted hands-on training and affordable tuition so she could graduate debt-free.
The more she learned about OFTC, the more her boxes were checked.
“I love that OFTC is affordable, convenient, and offers extremely valuable and sought after training that prepares students with the knowledge and skills to excel in their careers upon graduation,” Roady said.
She knew she wanted a career helping others and saving lives. After struggling with Restrictive Airway Disease as a child, Roady ultimately decided she wanted a career where she could impact others in the same way her life was impacted by Respiratory Therapists.
“As an adult who no longer struggles with these issues, I want to make a difference in patients’ lives and provide exemplary support and care for others who struggle with respiratory issues,” Roady shared.
She started her college career at OFTC in August of 2023 and is currently taking the needed core classes to compete for a spot in one of the college’s upcoming Respiratory Care program cohorts.
A Positive Outlook
So far, Roady says her time at OFTC has allowed her to regain the spark she needed to pursue academics and higher learning.
“My time here has shaped me into a confident and optimistic student,” she said. “OFTC has made reaching my goals not only attainable, but enjoyable.”
Roady was recently named OFTC’s 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, which is essentially the ‘Student of the Year’ award. As the college’s GOAL winner, she will compete in regional and state competitions against other Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) college winners for an opportunity to become the state’s 2025 GOAL winner this spring.
A Confident Future
Roady plans to compete for a spot in the Respiratory Care program this fall and is both optimistic and excited for her future.
“Before attending OFTC, I did not know how I could achieve my goals and felt lost,” Roady said. “Now I’m a confident student with a clear future.”
“OFTC has an amazing sense of community that’s welcoming and supportive,” she added. “I’m so glad I made the decision to attend OFTC to further my education and prepare for my career as a future respiratory therapist.”
For more info about OFTC, the Respiratory Care program, or the other 100+ programs available, visit the college’s website, OFTC.edu.
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OFTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.